Flare stepped forward, breaking the spell.“Redemption was possible for Jeryn. But it wasn’t instant.”
In a rare display, Jeryn’s throat constricted. “And I’ve yet to achieve it fully.”
Flare spun, cupped his profile, and mouthed something private that eased the tension in his features.
Briar dragged her admiring gaze from Nicu to me. Inspired by his sermon, a flicker of regret passed across her gray eyes, though she folded her hands primly in front of her. “It wasn’t immediate for Jeryn, as it cannot be for you.”
As much as I appreciated Nicu’s support, the princess was right. Working with Rhys had threatened the crusade and Nicu’sfuture, regardless of the motivation or outcome. I played a dicey hand, from which things could have turned out differently.
Also, the clan was too smart to be swayed. This mission to the enclave could have been a farce on my part. This plot to infiltrate the knight camp could have involved a secret rendezvous with Rhys, an attempt to drop Aire and Nicu into enemy hands. Our fellowship couldn’t risk giving me the benefit of the doubt.
While Poet’s eyes followed her, Princess Briar moved forward and halted inches from me. The scents of tart apples and parchment flooded my senses, resurrecting a thousand wistful memories of her and Poet, from the moment we met on the threshold of the Masters’ hideout.
Her voice shook as she regarded me. “I wish you had come to us sooner.”
My throat swelled. “I wish there’d been a chance before now.”
“There was always a chance.”
“Not if I wanted an opportunity to have Rhys under my thumb.”
Briar considered my argument. “Treasonous criminals should be painless to detain. But not when you care for them.” Her chin trembled. “You do not make this decision easy.”
I whispered around the rock in my throat. “Are your decisions ever easy?”
Fondness and sorrow tilted her mouth. At the sight, my chest constricted for the princess, the jester, the queen mother, and the Winter King. Life as a Royal wasn’t glamorous or enviable. Not when the world trapped you between duty and love.
Practical Autumn needed time to investigate and weigh the facts. With supreme effort, Briar stretched her lips into a flat line. The very portrait of political refinement, she glancedtoward her husband and forced herself to speak. “Take her away.”
Aire’s snarl tore across the woods. “No!”
Before the jester could snare my arm, the knight yanked me behind him. “You’re not fucking taking her anywhere.”
“Aire!” I grappled with his shoulder. “Aire, stop!”
“Not unless you take me too.”
Shock delayed Poet’s reaction. Aggression clashed with misery, both emotions torching across the jester’s face. In a dangerous tone, he coaxed, “Don’t do this, Aire.”
Nicu protested, crusading on my behalf to his mother, who attempted to rationalize with him. Jeryn stepped in, and Aire wrestled against the king’s hold, buckling and growling like a maddened soldier while Poet pinned my hands together.
“Aire,” I hollered. “Please, stop!”
But only when a slender hand settled on his elbow did the thrashing cease. Gingerly, Flare shook her head at him. Familiar with imprisonment and captivity, she wouldn’t wish this on anyone. But she also learned something crucial about the difference between ferocity and restraint, especially when it affected the fates of others.
Jeryn translated her actions. In a crisp baritone, he stated, “You’re making it worse.”
For me. Aire was making it worse for me.
I hadn’t thought of that. I’d only been thinking of how this fight would destroy him.
My knight froze. With his chest pumping hot air, Aire’s wild eyes swung to mine.
I held fast to that beautiful face and formed the words,“Keep your edge.”
Anguish collapsed his features. His lips mouthed back,“I love you.”
Our gazes clung as the clan pulled us apart.
